Notebook: Robles embraces wrestling with one leg

January 07, 2011|By Kevin Allen, CORRESPONDENT

HAMPTON — — Wrestling is an endeavor that requires the energy of every part of the human body. If you can move, outlast and outmuscle your opponent, you will prevail. Now imagine, if you will, the difficulty of wrestling without the use of a major body part.

Then you could relate just a little to Arizona State senior Anthony Robles.

You see, the two-time All-American and third-ranked wrestler at 125 pounds, was born without a right leg.

Robles won both of his Virginia Duals matches Friday at the Hampton Coliseum without surrendering a point — a 17-0 technical fall against Chattanooga's Joe DeAngelo, followed by a 8-0 major decision over Kent State's Nic Bedelyon.

Robles only began wrestling as a freshman at Mesa (Ariz.) High, when his cousin encouraged him to come out. His ability skyrocketed, and he followed unbeaten back-to-back state championships with a national championship.

What was the secret?

"I just kept working hard, just looking for the bigger, better guys to beat up on me so I can learn something," Robles said.

If all goes to plan, he one day might be the one teaching. He will graduate in May with a degree in business communications, and he said he aspires to make a living as a motivational speaker.

He's got a head start in public speaking — he's already been a guest on Montel Williams' and Jimmy Kimmel's talk shows.

Gloucester alum loves competing in Duals

For many years, Greg Todd attended the Duals, first as a fan, then as a state-champion wrestler at Gloucester. He was back on the mats Friday as a senior 149-pounder for St. Andrew's (N.C.) in the American College division.

Todd scored an unlikely 3-0 decision against B.J. Compton of the Apprentice School. Compton, an ODU transfer, was a four-time state champion at Christiansburg. Todd's win followed a 2-0 heartbreaker to Brockport (N.Y.)'s Eliah Golding. Todd sat out the second dual when New York University forfeited the 149 bout.

"Amazing. I love competing here," Todd said. "I've been coming to the Duals for the past 15 years."

St. Andrew's coach Joe Baranik said Todd's maturity and leadership have been a tremendous asset to the program at the 675-student Presbyterian school in Laurinburg, N.C.

"He carries himself well. He's almost like an assistant coach. He'll make a great coach one day," Baranik said.

VMI wrestlers fall in bracket

Two VMI wrestlers with local ties competed Friday in the National College bracket. However, Luke Todd (133) of New Kent and Ronnie Ellsworth (197) of Menchville lost their matches, first against top-seeded Penn State and then against Old Dominion.

Another area graduate, Hampton High alum and St. Andrew's wrestler Sterling Perry (133), went 1-2 Friday in the American College bracket, scoring a 18-1 technical fall against NYU's Adlee Fayyaz.

Kyle Spruill of Lafayette scored a 14-4 major decision against Troy Baranik of St. Andrew's, while Menchville alums Odis Wesby and Quentin Bowling each were 0-3.

Menchville loses to Pa. power

Menchville, the only Peninsula area high school competing in the American High School bracket, lost 56-18 to No. 1 seed and state power Liberty of Bethlehem, Pa. However, junior heavyweight Jordan Harris scored an unlikely pin.

"I'm feeling pretty excited," Harris said. "I expected their heavyweight to be bigger, but I kept cool, calm and collected and got the pin."